Exercising apparatus



E. l. PISCITELLI.

`EXERCISING APPARATUS.

APPLlcMloN man Nov. x6, 1920.

1,402,179, l 'Patelzi'tea Jan. 3,1922.

llllllmllllllll BY v ATTORNEYS.

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EDWARD J. PESCITELLE, '0F PHILADELPHIA, Il?Ed'NSYillN'INIA.

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T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD J. FisorrnLLr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Fhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Exercising Apparatus, of which the following is a specioation.

My invention relates to exercising devices and more particularly to an apparatus of this character which is of portable nature and gina-y be conveniently used at any time and at any place without any particular supporting means. l

In carrying outiny invention l provide a harness-like arrangement adapted to be placed on the back of the person using the exercising-device, this harness properly lpositioning themovable elements of the exer cising device for use.

The various features of my invention will be made apparent in the accompanying specification and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device as it appears in use,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device, and

Fig. 3 is a section on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the several figures, numeral 10 indicates a body harness, preferably of cloth or fabric provided with arm-holes 11 and as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 is adapted to be worn on the shouleers of the user. At the rear portion of the harness is provided a rigid back member 12. This member 12 is disposed vertically of the harness and is adapted to lie approximately the middle of the back of the person using the device, so as not to interfere with his shoulder movements. This'back member 12 retains the harness extended so that it will at all times lie snugly against the body of the user.

A belt 18 adapted to encircle the body of the user is secured lto the lower end of the reinforcing member 12 and is provided at the front thereof with a buckle 1e to enable it to be secured in position.

Positioned upon the reinforcing member 12 is a strap-like guide member 15 under which the strands 16 of the exercising member are slidably guided. These strands 16 are made preferably of elastic rope and are secured to a pair of handles or grips 17. The strands which connect the grips are formedin one piece which has its ends attached to the grip members as shown at 1S,

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed November 1G, 1929.

` Patented dan. 3, 1922.

Serial No. 424,540;

while the intermediate portions are looped through eyes 19 formed on the grips 17.

ln this way the pull on the several strands may be equalized because by the sliding movement allowed through the eyes 19 the length of the strands between the grips will always equally adjust themselves. 1t should be noted that aside from the adjustment of the strands 16 the exercising lmember may slide as a whole through the guide 15 as clearly illustrated in Figure-1.

The operation of the device isas follows:

rllhe person about to use this exerciser first slips on the harness 10 and buckles the belt 13 about his waist as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. Le then grasps the grips or handles 17 and in order to straighten out his arms he must necessarily put the strands 16 under tension inasmuch as they are somer what shorter than the extended reach of the user. lf the user thereafter brings his arms from a horizontal sidewise position to a point in front of him the strands 16 are put under a considerable tension, and the return movement of his arms to the original side extended position is influenced entirely by the tension of the strands 16. rIhis movement of the arms will cause the muscles of the users chest and back to be exercised.

Another form of exercise possible with my exerciser is that of striking forward with one arm or the other from the position illustrated in Figure 1. lf for instance, the user were to hold his left arm in the position illustrated in Figure 1 he could go through the actions of what is termed shadow-boxing with one hand or the other. By bending, for instance, his left arm as illustrated, the length of the strands on the right hand side of the device are considerably longer and enable a freer use of this arm. The length of the strands on the right hand side may obviously be shortened by ex tending the left arm and sliding the strands 16 through the guide 15. The same form of exercise may be performed with the left arm by reversing the position illustrated in Figure 1.

Various forms of exercising may be performed with the device illustrated and itis unnecessary to describe more than the obvious ones hereinbefore referred to. rlhe distinct advantage of the device is that it is portable and may be used any place, other than gymnasiums and the like, inasmuch as it need only be slipped on the back of the user and does not require attachment to Y permanent fixtures, such as the Wall, or floor.

It is likewise obvious that the structure illustrated may be changed in various respects Without departing from the spirit and Vscope of my invention and I particularly reserve this right. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, a combination With a body harness having a vestlike portion provided with arm-holes, of a pair of hand grips, resilient means comprising a plurality of looped strands connecting said hand grips and a guide carried by said harness for slidably supporting said resilient means.

2. A device of the class described which comprises a body harness, a pair of hand grips, said hand grips having a plurality of eyes formed therein, a resilient member connecting said hand grips and comprising a multiplicity of looped strands slidably engaging said hand grips through the eyes formed therein and a guide on said harness slidably supporting said resilient member.

3. A device of the class described which comprises a body harness, a rigid reinforcing member mounted thereon, a guide on said reinforcing member, a pair of hand grips, said hand grips having a: plurality of eyes formed therein, rubber rope connecting said hand grips and formed With slidably looped intermediate portions, said rubber rope being slidably supported in said guide, as and for the lpurpose set forth.

4:. A device of the class described Which comprises a vest-like body harness, a rigid reinforcing member, a guide on said reinforcing member, a pair of hand grips provided With a plurality of eyes, a rubber rope connecting said hand grips and provided with looped intermediate portions slidably engaging said eyes, whereby said rope may automatically adjust itself to a uniform tension, said rubber, rope being slidably supported in said guide, as and for the purpose set forth. Y Y

5. A device of the class described which comprises a vest-like body harness, a rigid reinforcing member, a guide on said Yreinforcing member, a pair of hand grips provided with a plurality of eyes, rubber rope secured to oppositely disposed eyesof opposite hand grips and slidably carried by the other eyes of said hand grips, said rubber rope being slidably supported in said guide, as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD J. PISCITELLI; 

